Victorian nurse Francis joined the ANMF at the earliest opportunity.
Back then, in his second year of an undergraduate degree in nursing, he frequently heard friends discuss how the union empowers and advocates for nurses.
“I thought I’d get a head start and join the union to begin understanding what nursing is all about outside the theory or academic side of it,” he recalls.
Francis migrated from the Philippines to Australia in 2016. Working in the challenging aged care sector for nearly four years gave him valuable insight into the role and responsibilities of nurses, ultimately inspiring him to pursue the profession.
“It gave me a lot of encouragement and inspiration to become a registered nurse.”
After finishing his degree, Francis stayed locally and undertook his graduate year in regional Victoria, where he was exposed to general and mental health nursing. He developed a passion for mental health nursing and eventually took a full-time position at the hospital.
Like many early career nurses, Francis began his nursing journey amid the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, as the broader profession grappled with the health response. With many nurses experiencing burnout, some graduates like Francis faced challenges in finding their footing.
When it became tough to cope, Francis turned to the ANMF, specifically the Victorian Branch’s Graduate and Final Year Student Support Officer Alice Pemberton, for guidance.
“I was experiencing challenges in my personal life when I started nursing, which affected my mental health and wellbeing. It was a bit too much for me when I started my graduate program and I wasn’t in the correct headspace to go to work at times,” he reveals.
“I reached out to Alice, and she gave me with a lot of encouragement and resources on how I could be supported in my graduate year. I was nearly going to quit nursing or have a break from it. I was overwhelmed and stressed. But Alice always gave me positive encouragement and touched base with me throughout my graduate year.”
In addition to guidance, Alice connected Francis with other supports such as the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV), a free, confidential and independent support service for nurses and midwives, which he accessed. The comprehensive support helped him navigate the early challenges and come out stronger.
“The ANMF stepped in and helped me move forward. It was a challenging time for me, and they supported me to get through my graduate year and become a successful nurse.
“It gave me confidence that I’m represented in my profession. I know that the ANMF will advocate for me and understand what I’m going through, which was evident when I was a graduate nurse. When I have reached out to ANMF, I have received good responses and suggestions on how I can better handle or cope with my workload.
Now working in mental health nursing, Francis is relishing the opportunity to broaden his skills as a nurse. His story forms part of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation’s (ANMF) 100 years of fighting for its members. Membership has grown from 748 in 1924 to over 326,000 today. A long list of seminal achievements includes better wages and conditions, including penalty rates, nurse-to-patient ratios, the transition to university education, national registration, and the emergence of nurse practitioners and nurse-led healthcare.
Francis believes that the ANMF’s ongoing efforts for better wages, conditions, and recognition typify why it’s so important to stand in solidarity.
“Although nursing skills are highly varied, the nursing profession remains undervalued. Without the ANMF, I don’t think we would be able to achieve the support and work entitlements we deserve.”
Nevertheless, Francis admits that the nursing profession will face many challenges in the years to come, including nursing workforce shortages, occupational violence and aggression, and burnout.
Undertaking his graduate year during the COVID-19 pandemic opened his eyes to many of these issues, and as his career progresses, he hopes to move into mentorship to create better pathways and support for the next generation of nurses.
With the ANMF at the helm, Francis believes nurses and midwives across the country remain in good hands.
“It makes me feel proud that the ANMF is celebrating its 100th anniversary,” he says.
“Understanding the new challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has helped me access the resources available to nurses to manage feelings of stress and burnout. I’ve learned and reflected a lot in this profession. This is a significant milestone and something I am proud to be a part of.”
